Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very familiar with this issue. We need to get our language right here. There has been no delay and no one has been locked out of anything. It is a new use for the drug. It was approved by the EMA in January. An application came in for the first group of children some time ago. That was processed and approved very quickly by the HSE. The application in respect of the new group of children the Deputy mentioned only came into the HSE six weeks ago. It is going through exactly the same process. The HSE needs to look at the health technology assessment and other things. It did the first assessment very quickly. I have no reason to think it will be otherwise for this one. We are now waiting to hear what recommendation comes from the HSE. The Deputy can rest assured that it is being watched very carefully by the Department.

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